Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, October 26, 193 "Forever" Is Washington's Bet, $22,000 Washington, Oct. 25. — "Now and Forever" proved the strongest dra\v of the week here, knocking down $22,000, over par by $4,400, at the Earle. A vaudeville bill headed by the Kitaros Trio helped. "The Cat's Paw" came in for second comparative honors by running over the profit line $2,500 for a total of $23,000 at Loew's Fox. Three houses were on second weeks or return engagements, but in spite of this business held up to $79,700. "The Barretts of Wimpole Street," playing Loew's Columbia after an earlier 14-day run at Loew's Palace, took $8,000. "One Night of Love" grossed $4,500 in two days and a single show the night before. The first part of the week (4^ days) was held by "Belle of the Nineties," which drew $3,200. The picture is in the Warner No. 2 house for an indefinite run, which is expected to stretch into four full weeks. Loew's Palace, in the second week of "Cleopatra," was weak at $6,000. "The Age of Innocence" was worth $13,000 to RKO-Keith's. Estimated takings, exclusive of tax, for the week ending Oct. 18: "NOW AND FOREVER" (Para.) EARLE— (2,218), 25c-77c, 7 days. Stage: Kitaros Trio, Irene Beasley, Barney Grant & Hillbillies, Virginia Bacon & Co. Gross: $22,000. (Average, $17,600) "THE BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET" (M-G-M) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,264), 25c-40c, 7 days (return engagement). Gross: $8,000. (Average, $3,100) "THE CAT'S PAW" (Fox) LOEW'S FOX— (3,434), 25c-66c, 7 days. Stage: Ed Lowry, George Sidney, Eleanor Powell, Lillian Dawson, Florence & Alvarez. Gross: $23,000. (Average, $20,500) "CLEOPATRA" (Para.) LOEW'S PALACE— (2,370), 35c-77c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $14,500) "BELLE OF THE NINETIES" (Para.) METROPOLITAN— (1,591), 25c-40c, 454 days (extended run, second week). Gross: $3,200. (Average, full week, $4,100) "ONE NIGHT OF LOVE" (Col.) METROPOLITAN— Two days' return engagement, plus special opening show, to complete week of above. Gross: $4,500. (Average, full week, $4,100) "THE AGE OF INNOCENCE" (Radio) RKO-KEITH'S— (1,836), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $11,400) "Wimpole" Big in Montreal, $12,500 Montreal, Oct. 25. — The Palace and Loew's ran neck and neck for popular favor. "The Barretts of Wimpole Street," with Norma Shearer in the lead, Norma being a Montreal daughter, brought a healthy $12,500 to the Palace. At Loew's, the same gross was registered with "Have a Heart" on the screen and Arthur Tracy on the stage along with six acts of vaudeville. "The Richest Girl in the World" gave $9,500 to the Capitol. Third week of "One Night of Love" at the Princess was good for $4,500, the total run being worth §20,500. Total first run was $39,000. Average is $37,000. Estimated takings for the week ending Oct. 20 : "THE RICHEST GIRL IN THE WORLD" (Radio) (Continued on page 8) 'Barretts" Up To $43,700 in Its 3rd Week In its third week at the Capitol "The Barretts of Wimpole Street" was still Broadway's outstanding attraction. The take was $43,700, enough to warrant a fourth week, which is claimed to be the first sound picture ever to be held that long in this spot. Only one silent film, "Flesh and the Devil," stayed that long. "Judge Priest" was big at the Music Hall, but not sensational. The gross was $77,000. There were two other holdovers, "Count of Monte Cristo" at the Rivoli, with a gross of §18,000 for its third week, and "Peck's Bad Boy," with a take of §25,850 at the Roxy on its second week. Estimated takings : Week Ending Oct. 16: "COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO" (U. A.) RIVOLI— (2,300), 40c-99c, 3rd week, 7 days. Gross: $18,000. Week Ending Oct. 17: "THE MERRY WIDOW" (M-G-M) ASTOR— (1,012), 55c-$2.20, 7 days. Gross: $18,957. "WAKE UP AND DREAM" (Univ.) MAYFAIR — (2,300), 35s-65c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. "JUDGE PRIEST" (Fox) RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL— (5.945), 35c-$1.65, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $77,000. Week Ending Oct. 18: "BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET" (M-G-M) CAPITOL— (4,700), 35c-$1.65. 3rd week, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $43,700. "CHU CHIN CHOW" (Gaumont-British) PALACE— (2.500). 25c-75c. 7 days. Vaudeville. Gross: $10,000. "NOW AND FOREVER" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,700). 35c-99c, 7 days. Gross: $43,000. "PECK'S BAD BOY" (Fox) ROXY— (6,200). 25c-55c. 2nd week, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $25,850. "HAPPINESS AHEAD" (Warners) STRAND— (2.000), 25c-55c, 7 davs. Gross: $21,500. Week Ending Oct. 23: "CASE OF THE HOWLING DOG" (Warners) RIALTO— (2,300), 2Ec-65c, 7 days. Gross: $14,000. "Fix It" and Show Oklahoma City Top Oklahoma City, Oct. ,'25. — "I'll Fix It," combined with a stage show for the first four days of the week at the Liberty, pulled $2,600. over par for a week by §600. "The Human Side," for three days, garnered $600. It was a dull week for the other first, runs, with "The Fountain," "Six-Day Bike Rider" and "Student Tour," all being under normal. Total first run business was $11,900. Average is $13,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Oct. 20: "THE FOUNTAIN" (Radio) CRITERION— (1.700). 10c-20c-36c-41c-56c. 7 days. Gross: $3,900. (Average, $5,000) "SIX-DAY BIKE RIDER" (F. N.) MIDWEST— (1,500). 10c-26c-36c-56c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $4,000) "STUDENT TOUR" (M-G-M) CAPITOL— (1,200), 10c-20c-26c-36c-41c, 7 days. Gross: $1,800. (Average, $2,500) "I'LL FIX IT" (Col.) LIBERTY— (1,500), 10c-15c-26c-36c. 4 days. "Sunkist Vanities" on stage. Gross: $2,600. (Average week, $2,000) "HUMAN SIDE" (Univ.) LIBERTY— (1,500), 10c-15c-26c-36c, 3 days. Gross: $600. (Average week, $2,000) Wrong Leg of Wood Hollywood, Oct. 25.— Recently, several months after the picture had been released, some one at M-G-M made this discovery. After a year's research on the picture, Wally Beery, playing Long John Silver in "Treasure Island," appeared with the wrong leg off! Arliss $12,300 Providence Draw Providence, Oct. 25. — High gross for the week was scored by George Arliss in "The Last Gentleman" which brought in $12,300 at Loew's State, $300 over par. Vaudefilm programs held up well, both the RKO Albee and Fay's beating their average takes by more than $1,000. "Cleopatra" had a strong week at the Strand, catching $7,200, and the Majestic came under the wire to tie the average figure at $7,000 with "Madame Du Barry" and "The Curtain Falls." Total first run business was $44,600. Average is $40,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Oct. 18: "CLEOPATRA" (Para.) "TRAGEDY OF MT. EVEREST" STRAND— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $6,500) "MADAME DU BARRY" (Warners) "THE CURTAIN FALLS" (Radio) MAJESTIC— (2,400). 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $7,000) "THE DUDE RANGER" (Fox) FAY'S — (1,600), 15c-40c, 7 days. Stage: "Words and Music. Inc," revue. Gross: $8,200. (Average, $7,000) "GIFT OF GAB" (Univ.) RKO ALBEE— (2,300), 15c-40c. 7 days. Stage: "Pace Makers of 1934." Gross: $8,800. (Average, $7,000) "THE LAST GENTLEMAN" (U. A.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,800), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $12,300. (Average. $12,000) "I'LL FIX IT" (Col.) RKO VICTORY— (1,600), 10c-25c, short subjects. Gross: $1,100. (Average, $1,000) Accounting Ordered In a Tri -Ergon Case Scranton. Pa., Oct. 25. — A master to ascertain an accounting of the profits, gains and benefits which have accrued to Wilmer and Vincent and Altoona Publix Theatres by reason of their alleged infringement of the patents of the American Tri-Ergon Corp. will be appointed shortly by Judge Albert W. Johnson, the jurist has announced after a meeting with counsel for both sides. The order appointing a master will embody Judge Johnson's formal decree ending the The Pennsylvania case adjudicated is one of two which the U. S. Supreme Court refused to review earlier this month, the action resulting in a deluge of lawsuits by American Tri-Ergon in New York, Brooklyn and Wilmington. The _ Pennsylvania case — a suit for an injunction and an accounting — was filed in 1932 at Harrisburg and was tried before Judge Albert W. Johnson at Scranton. The defendants were charged with violating the socalled flywheel patent controlled by Tri-Ergon. a Fox company in which he owns 90 per cent of the stock. The defendants contended the pat "Mrs. Wiggs" Twin Cities' High Grosser Minneapolis, Oct. 25. — "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" demonstrated strength on both sides of the river last week. It ran over par bv $1,000 here on a $6,500 gross at the State and took the same amount with the same overage at the St. Paul Paramount. "Barretts of Wimpole Street" was still an outstanding draw in its second week, going to $6,500, up by $1,500 at the Century. "Girl of the Limberlosf" was another strong attraction. It grabbed $3,500 at the 300-seat Time. Total first run business in Minneapolis was $26,700. Average is $21,000. Total first run business in St. Paul was $18,500. Average is $16,000. Estimated takings : Minneapolis: Week Ending Oct. 18: "THE BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET" (M-G-M) CENTURY— (1.000), 35c-55c, 2nd week, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average. $4,000) "CHARLIE CHAN IN LONDON" (Fox) LYRIC— (1.000), 20c-25, 7 days. Gross: $1,700. (Average, $1,500) Week Ending Oct. 19: "THE GAY DIVORCEE" (Radio) RKO ORPHEUM— (2,900), 25c-50c, 7 davs. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $5,500) "MRS. WIGGS OF THE CABBAGE PATCH" (Para.) STATE— (2.300). 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average. $5,500) "GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST' (Mono.) TIME— (300), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average. $2,500) "CASH" (Mundus) WORLD— (400). 25c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $2,500) St. Paul: Week Ending Oct. 18: "MRS. WIGGS OF THE CABBAGE PATCH" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2.300), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $5,500) "BIG HEARTED HERBERT" (Warners) RIVIERA— (1,200), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $3,500) "WAKE UP AND DREAM" (Univ.) RKO ORPHEUM— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 davs. Gross: $4,000. (Average. $4,000) "HAVE A HEART" (M-G-M) TOWER— (1,000), 15c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $1,500) "THE LITTLE DAMOSEL" (Principal) WORLD— (300), 25c-75c, 7 days. "The Drunkard." stage play. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $2,000) Collier to Baltimore Washington, Oct. 25. — Rodney Collier. managing director of the recently closed Universal-operated Rialto, has been named manager of the Stanley, Baltimore, by John J. Payette, general zone manager of Warners' theatres here. Walter M. Morris, Stanley manager, is being transferred to the home office in New York. ents were invalid and lost in the district court. They also lost their appeal to the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals. It was the refusal of the Supreme Court to review this appeal which established the validity of the patents by indirection. Immediately following the Supreme Court move, Ward, Crosby & Neal. Fox attorneys, submitted a form of injunction to Judge Johnson, and it was this injunction which was signed by him. Its immediate effect is to force the defendants to stop using the patents or reach some kind of an agreement with Fox.